------------Iti 109. Nadiisota sutta (The River Current)[ Translated by John D. Ireland]

This was said by the Lord...

"Suppose, bhikkhus, a man was being borne along by the current of a river thatseemed pleasant and agreeable. But upon seeing him, a keen-sighted man standingon the bank would call out to him: 'Hey, good man! Although you are being bornealong by the current of a river that seems pleasant and agreeable, lower downthere is a pool with turbulent waves and swirling eddies, with monsters anddemons. On reaching that pool you will die or suffer close to death.' Then,bhikkhus, upon hearing the words of that person, that man would struggle againstthe current with hands and feet.

"I have made use of this simile, bhikkhus, to illustrate the meaning. And thisis the meaning here:

(1) 'The current of the river' (nadiyaa soto) is a synonym for craving(ta.nhaa).

(9) 'The keen-sighted man standing on the bank' (cakkhumaa puriso tiire .thito)is a synonym for the Tathaagata, the Arahant, the Fully Enlightened One(Sammaasambuddha)."[/color]

"Desiring future security from bondageOne should abandon sensual desireHowever painful this may be.Rightly comprehending with wisdom,Possessing a mind that is well released,One may reach freedom step by step.

"One who is a master of knowledge,Who has lived the holy life,Is called one gone to the world's end,One who has reached the further shore."

This beautiful Friday... not the 13th but 15th..Please let me share this amazing gatha with you all. Dr.Han tun learned Pali in school(Burma) since he was very young..he's so good with Pali.

Rajadattattheragatha [Presented by Dr.Han Tun @ SD/JTN]

Theragathas are delightful verses uttered by Theras through sheer exultation and joy that arise out of their religious devotion and inspiration. These inspiring verses gush forth from their hearts after their attainment of Arahantship as an announcement of their achievement and also as a statement of their effort which has led to their final enlightenment. The following verses were uttered by Rajadatta Thera. He belonged to a caravan leader's family of Saavatthi, and was so called because he was born through the favour of Vessavana. When he came of age he took a caravan of five hundred carts to Rajagaha. Then, having squandered all his money, he went to Veluvana, and, after hearing the Buddha preach, entered the Order and lived in a charnel field. While wandering about, he saw the mangled body of a murdered courtesan and only with a great effort saved himself from distraction of mind. Later, he induced jhana and won arahantship. [Han: Vessavana = One of the names of Kuvera, given to him because his kingdom is called Visana. He is one of the Catummaharaja and rules over the Yakkhas, his kingdom being in the north.] --------------- Thag 5.1 Rajadatta translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

(2) Though some were disgusted, seeing her dead, Evil lust appeared, as if I were blind to the oozings. 316. "Ya~nhi eke jigucchanti, mata.m disvaana paapaka.m;Kaamaraago paaturahu, andhova savatii ahu.m.

(3) In less time than it takes for rice to cook, I got out of that place.Mindful, alert, I sat down to one side. 317. "Ora.m odanapaakamhaa, tamhaa .thaanaa apakkami.m;Satimaa sampajaanoha.m, ekamanta.m upaavisi.m.